Investment Specialist

18-month Fixed Term Contract: 37.5 hour per week

Full time (we welcome flexible working discussions)

An opportunity to make a difference

At Border to Coast our purpose is to make a difference and we’re looking for a keen Investment Specialist to join our award-winning team.

As a customer-owned and customer-focused organisation, integrity is one of our values, as is our collaborative and sustainable approach. Our focus is to secure the pensions of over a million people who have provided valuable service to their communities and society. We’re the largest UK asset manager outside London or Edinburgh, and we provide innovative investments that deliver sustainable returns over the long term.

We are seeking an Investment Specialist to join the organisation, to support the continued success of our partnership by supporting the launch, evolution and consideration of capabilities and propositions, ensuring our range of capabilities reflects Partner Fund needs as we see change in their priorities, objectives and opportunities.

The role – what you’ll be doing

As an Investment Specialist your role is hugely important and will include:

• Partnering with the Head of Change and the Investments Team, co-ordinating the delivery and launch of new or evolved propositions & capabilities with our Partner Funds, including a wider range of investment management services such as rebalancing, hedging or cashflow management
  
  
• Working with Customer Relationship Managers (“CRMs”) to ensure an understanding of Partner Fund objectives, needs and beliefs and ensure these are reflected in our decision making.
  
  
• Support CRMs and Partner Funds in stakeholder management throughout proposition and capability evolution or launches.
  
  
• Work with the Investments Team to ensure propositions and capabilities are presented in a cohesive, clear and impactful manner to Partner Funds and within the market, assisting with the preparation of presentations where needed.
  
  
• Work with CRMs and the Investments Team to assist in the response to technical queries and requests on our range of investment propositions and capabilities.
  
  
• Support ongoing relationship management with investment consultants and independent advisors, ensuring an ongoing understanding of their views of Border to Coast and our propositions.
  
  
• Working with CRMs to ensure a forwards looking view of Partner Fund transition plans, opportunities and assets at risk, supporting the transition of assets to pool management.
  
  
• Work with the CRMs to ensure opportunities and assets at risk are appropriately recorded in the CRM system.
  
  
• Identify risks in own area of responsibility, recognise risks in all areas of the business and notify any such risks to your People Manager and the Operational Risk Manager.
  
  About you - and the value you’ll bring to our team
  
  
• Strong understanding of financial markets, a range of asset classes and investment management services such as rebalancing or hedging.
  
  
• Familiarity with financial regulations and compliance requirements affecting investment propositions.
  
  
• Proficiency in analysing market trends and interpreting performance data and financial metrics.
  
  
• Experience engaging with customers, understanding their needs, and tailoring solutions to meet those needs.
  
  
• Effective in engaging with internal stakeholders (e.g. Executive, Investments, Change, Operations and Risk) and customers to understand and align views and priorities.
  
  
• Ability to clearly and persuasively present ideas, proposition design concepts and business cases to a range of audiences.
  
  
• Ability to work both as a team and independently to collectively progress towards an outcome.
  
  
• Ability to gain a deep understanding of customer needs and the ability to reach mutual agreement on design concept.
  
  
• High levels of integrity and trustworthiness.
  
  
• Effective in IT skills required for the job role.
  
  Why join Border to Coast?
  
  At Border to Coast, you will receive competitive remuneration and have access to excellent benefits:
  
  Vitality Health Insurance for all employees
  
  Employee Assistance Programme
  
  A generous holiday allowance of 30 days a year, plus bank holidays
  
  Professional Development including the opportunity to gain fully funded qualifications (e.g. IMC)
  
  Critical Illness Cover
  
  Pension scheme
  
  Stunning Leeds city centre location only a short walk to the train station
  
  Cycle to work scheme
  
  Life Assurance of 6 times of salary
  
  Sustainable travel plans and public transport discounts
  
  Range of discounts for Leeds gyms, shops and restaurants
  
  Hybrid working
  
  Onsite gym
  
  There’s also more information about pay and reward, careers at Border to Coast and how we work on our website Careers - Border To Coast - Work With Us
  
  We welcome applications from people of all experience levels and backgrounds and value diversity of thought. We are committed to creating an inclusive and engaging workplace, ensuring that colleagues maintain a work life balance. We encourage colleagues to progress, be themselves and be their best through both personal and professional development.
  
  If you have a disability, or if you have a condition that you believe may affect your performance during our selection process, we would be happy to discuss making reasonable adjustments to our processes for you.
  
  We’re looking for people with the right values, behaviours, skills and experiences and if you meet some of the role’s criteria and are interested in finding out more about Border to Coast and the team, we’d love to hear from you.
  
  About Us
  
  Border to Coast is the largest LGPS (Local Government Pension Scheme) pool in the UK. It is owned by 11 Local Government Pension Schemes (‘Partner Funds’). The Partner Funds represent 3,100 employers and over a million members.
  
  The Partner Funds are Bedfordshire, Cumbria, Durham, East Riding, Lincolnshire, North Yorkshire, South Yorkshire, Surrey, Teesside, Tyne and Wear and Warwickshire.
  
  The Partner Funds have c.£64bn in investments, of which Border to Coast is responsible for managing £47.9bn (as of 31 March 2024). Border to Coast also provides support and advice on a further £8.2bn, primarily invested in index funds, which sit outside of the pool.
  
  Border to Coast offers its 11 Partner Funds investment opportunities across equities, fixed income, private markets, and global and UK real estate.
  
  Our purpose is to make a difference for the LGPS. We seek to do this by providing cost-effective and innovative investment opportunities delivering returns over the long term for our Partner Funds, their employers and over 1.1 million LGPS members.
  
  Since launch, Border to Coast has been awarded many accolades: ‘Best Pool of the Year’ at the LAPF Investment Awards three years out of four, most recently winning ‘Pool Innovation of the Year’, named at the Professional Pensions UK Pensions Awards as ‘Equity’ and ‘Alternatives Manager of the Year’, and our Climate Change report has won Pensions for Purpose awards two years in a row